Getting jobs for the disabled

By EDWARD RAJENDRA

WHAT help is available to me if I have a disability and I am looking for a job?

Questions of this nature cause many disable people to grope in the dark, as we do not have disability employment advisers.

Women, Family and Community Development Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said she realised that a number of disable people were unable to land a job even though they had the skill as firms shut out such applications based on the word “handicapped.”

“Over time, I have realised that such discrimination is no needed. We have disable people who can contribute to the advancement of a particular sector based on a skill acquired,” she said.

She added that three non-governmental organisations with the ministry’s support is drawing up a guidebook to create a level playing field in offering job opportunities for the disable.

Earlier Chew officiated a playground built by Unilever (Malaysia) Holdings Sdn Bhd at PEYAKIN Orphanage here.

Chinese Chamber of Commerce Federal Territories and Selangor who is spearheading the project together with the Malaysian Confederation of The Disable and Beautiful Gate Foundation held a workshop with the Ministry last week on the project to realise the guidebook.

Chew said the three NGO’s are planning the scope of work involved in the preparation of the guidebook and at the same time will form a special team of disability employment advisers to help the disable to land jobs.

“It involves much work, input of ideas and pairing of disable people with job opportunities available in the market. Databases need to be built on the limitations and strengths of the disable people, so, that the NGO’s are equipped to feed these information to the market place,” she said.

Chew said the disability employment advisers once become active should be able to give appropriate advice and guidance.

“Apart from that, the advisers can also expand to provide specialist support to people whose disability or health condition has deteriorated and who need employment advice. As we find employed people are also concerned about losing their jobs because of a disability setting in. Advice is much needed as it would help to overcome work related obstacles resulting from a disability,” she said.

Source : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/22/central/16870739&sec=central